10 Wrestlers Who Actually STAYED Retired

From JBL and Scott Hall to AJ Lee and CM Punk, these are 10 Wrestlers Who Actually Stayed Retired.
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Cultaholic provides video coverage of professional wrestling - including WWE (including WWE Raw, WWE SmackDown, NXT and 205 Live), AEW, IMPACT Wrestling (formerly TNA), NJPW, ROH, and more with daily news updates, reviews, lists, highlights, predictions, reactions, podcasts and much, much more.

[@Hester-l6k]

Since this video: Christian came back CM Punk came back Steve Austin came back

[@bambam1131]

This video was made 1 year before austin and cm punk returned

[@ballout1059]

@@bambam1131 that’s why he said “since this video”

[@Mr.DontOverThinkIt]

And, sadly, Scott Hall has passed away

[@ShaySomaroo9389]

@Rueben Who 🤣🤣🤣 true they did come back, except Stone Cold Steve Austin only came back for one match, Idk if his coming back again to do another match.

[@memphisbluu]

@@bambam1131 key word “since”

[@epicpancakes23]

Your take on Christian aged like milk lmao.

[@anakinstarlord]

Actually.......

[@smashpro1]

And CM Punk.

[@Imsorryman]

@@smashpro1 And possibly Stone Cold, wild.

[@hasanmahmd]

@@Imsorryman Not possible anymore

[@bigguyjosh6420]

@@hasanmahmd what you mean??? It happend at maina 38 he took a suplex on concrete

[@violagreene4643]

10 Wrestlers who actually stayed retired ... as of this recording

[@anonim1083]

Ultimate Warrior and Jack Brisco will stay retired.

[@oniakuma2392]

That and several other caveats or asterisks should be in the description. I would argue Shawn Michaels never left retirement for 2 reasons: 1. He still performed moves and his finisher as part of Cameos and Cameos shouldn't count, so Saudi Arabia can be a Cameo (sort of like when Retired Wrestlers show up and his their finisher on someone in a segment, or TV/Movie Appearance) 2. Saudi Arabia isn't Canon and never should be considered Canon. Nothing good has come from any of their shows, except Titus's Ring Dive (Yes, I'm including Fiend's win of the Title because it never should have happened, just like his loss to Goldberg never should have happened) EDIT: WWE doesn't even acknowledge all of their own history. Phantom Title Wins are a thing, some Legitimate Title Wins aren't part of their history. Also, RETCON is a thing. This IS a tv show, remember? Its a scripted fictional story.

[@Jeff-ok6dr]

Austin hasn't had a match in 17 in a half years, so it's safe to say he's done.

[@fennet.7751]

Lol

[@subhasis_art.]

@@Jeff-ok6dr its been 17 years already..my god, I'm old ;_;

[@tajari2002]

“Wwe policy with the regards of Christian injury” pretty much translates to “We aren’t going to have another Chris Benoit controversy so no more wrestling for you Christian”

[@angelking3708]

Which is kinda weird considering Bryan retired due to concussion issues too. But he's back in the ring. Soooooo. Don't know what happened there.

[@tajari2002]

@@angelking3708 and so is seahmus (yea I know I spelled his name so wrong)

[@user-et1wj5ik3g]

@@angelking3708 When Bryan returned he was a lot younger than what Christian is now. Bryan’s injuries were also not as severe (plus Bryan’s return made WWE a lot more money than wheat they would make from Christians return)

[@user-et1wj5ik3g]

@@tajari2002 Sheamus was never at a point where he was forced to retire. They kept him in a team with Cesaro because he was starting to get worse (in terms of health) but was never close to the condition of Christan. Also concussions were not the main concern of Sheamus. It was mostly his neck and spine which concerned doctors.

[@tajari2002]

@@user-et1wj5ik3g really I heard on whatculture that wwe was close to making him retire some months back

[@splash8429]

Man it's hard to get over HBK's coming back from retirement. He arguably had the best farewell of any wrestler ever did and ruined it

[@deweyonpoint5765]

Same feelings here. and it wasn't even for the ultimate dream match with AJ Styles...but it was for the money. Part of the many reasons I can't watch anymore.

[@djpegao]

_Cough, cough_ Ric Flair retirement, _cough, cough_

[@DrakeKnight99]

Vince parks a dumptruck of money on their lawn and they come back

[@omzimusic3385]

Saudi Arabia drug money can't be resisted

[@heiko231]

lets just be in denial about his return

[@cld244]

If you made this three years ago you would have included HBK. Some of these people could still return.

[@Bennyboi004]

his came out of retirement once before though

[@mitchellsommer2321]

@@Bennyboi004 Although that wasn't technically a retirement

[@cld244]

@@Bennyboi004 True.

[@megcrane5689]

Yes Shaw Mickey at clash of chapoins sweet chined music of the ambulance

[@thecultofkeron1890]

@@megcrane5689 that's not coming out of retirement .....so because stone cold Steve Austin hit a stunner on Byron Saxton earlier in the year he came out of retirement? Hell nah!!......Shawn retired in 2010 and came out of retirement in 2018 not 2020..

[@zeakskingley357]

It's crazy how much this list has changed in 1 year 😆

[@slashandbones13]

JBL did have 41 seconds in a Royal Rumble match but I personally wouldn't count brief battle royal and royal rumble apprences.

[@_fadingcolors]

Depends on the reason of being in the Rumble as even Drew Carey was in it once.

[@Artwr]

He was like in, took his jacket and got clotheslined out right.

[@aksghazi868]

What about Terry Funk? He hasn't wrestled a match since his first retirement.

[@realityorfiction]

You mean since his 5th retirement lmao

[@TheForeverRanger]

Even Dory Funk Jr still wrestles and he started wrestling the year my mom was born.

[@blairsmith3199]

It's crazy he only really retired 3 years ago

[@chrisbarrettFilmstudio]

I mean even I wrestled terry funk in his 38th retirement match

[@jacobcraft123]

@@realityorfiction his 5th? I thoguht it was his 86th ? Did i miss the retirement party for that one? Damn it funk

[@mxmschae]

Not only were they wrong about Christian not having a chance to come back with WWE, but they were also wrong about him not leaving WWE.

[@Patrennessy]

Missed on Punk and Stone cold coming back too lmao

[@kaylenirbyjr5786]

Lol “Christian Cage”

[@PhilJoeO]

Just throwing it out that Cagematch recognizes Christian's 2020 unsanctioned match.

[@benjaminclark250]

cause they consider that a match

[@jesusgarciag858]

Randy beat him quick because of the injury I guess

[@ClovissenpaiDotR]

Well JBL didn't exactly stay retired if he came out of retirement and retired again...

[@stevewright6433]

After he lost to rey he stayed retired

[@tylerwatkins3196]

Yea if JBL is qualified then so should Shawn, Flair, and Hogan

[@stevewright6433]

@@RyanConnell5150 that's a one off he didnt come back full time

[@harveyholmes9533]

The video seems to be only counting wrestlers who choose to retire and stay retired. JBLs first retirement was forced by injury not choice, once he actually decided to hang it up he stuck to it

[@KendallMcNeilClark]

DIdn't JBL retire in 06 first?

[@trippmcgee]

Soooo ultimate warrior didn’t actually stay retired 😂😂

[@abakatowski5892]

Right 🤣

[@raptorcouch9253]

Yeah well I don’t think he’ll be back anytime soon.

[@raptorcouch9253]

@Cody Gatzke pretty sure the saudis still asked for him to come.

[@rogregg29445]

@@raptorcouch9253 yeah they did 😂😂

[@DXnationmember]

I find it intereating that Ultimate Warrior was included even though he did have a match after retiring but Shawn Michaels wasn't.

[@SkyDog1972]

5:54 Afterwards, he (Ultimate Warrior) retired, and barring a one-off match..." If he wrestled another match, HE DID NOT STAY RETIRED! If you count Warrior this way, you need to count Shawn Michaels as well.

[@adammeyer347128]

That Christian entry in particular aged well… 😂😂

[@MatthiasGeorgi]

JBL recently said he can imagine to come back and also has the perfect storyline in mind for it so this video might not age well.

[@FuuuckOffff]

Layla really doing well to resist those legions of screaming fans and millions of dollars to make that comeback

[@theamazingcj2748]

"Christian will never return to a WWE ring" Incorrect. "He's not about to go against the organization and try his luck elsewhere" Also incorrect.

[@zyndicate9720]

lol

[@MetalWizard91]

This was a year ago

[@TAK1997]

So, Warrior gets away with that one match in Italy, but HBK somehow doesn't, even though it's the same circumstances?

[@AJRequiem0]

Scott halls six and a half lives are unfortunately now over, rest in piece you bloody legend

[@fhb3]

8:30 Wrong, Adam Pacitti: if cats have nine lives, then Scott Hall has already used up his 10th.

[@harshithn4810]

R.I.P. Scott Hall

[@LEGACY.2001]

Top 10 rivals of a certain wrestlers

[@collinsirori2745]

I'd love to see one for John Cena Stone Cold and Shawn Michaels even though we pretty much know who their biggest rivals are

[@burnthetrolls5971]

Number 1 is Randy Orton and John Cena they always fought each other every single time

[@diegoruben6757]

They could get so many videos from this idea

[@collinsirori2745]

@@burnthetrolls5971 ooooh I'd beg to differ I think its Edge

[@AquilaSky21]

Love your profile pic 👌

[@thebrotherhood227]

AJ Lee was my teenage dream lmaooo I miss her in wrestling

[@emmanuelmakoba6085]

She was really good 👌🏾

[@jesusgarciag858]

She was my fave diva tbh lol she was great imo

[@stevelowe2647]

Mine was Trish Stratus in 2001.

[@markperry2827]

She was a pudding head. Punk was a super pudding head. There was obviously a failed drug test by Punk and they made it go away with him exiting this way.

[@Muhammadwasapedo]

@@stevelowe2647 Trish was mine until Stacy Keebler.

[@CoreyAether]

The Christian part of this aged well

[@DoctorLazers]

To be fair, we can't know this until they're dead.

[@harshithn4810]

Like Stone Cold for example Who would've thought that he'd return for one more match

[@pcwc1]

I figure Stone Cold was number 1 cause he didn't return to wrestler at all.

[@depo_ynx]

i think maybe he gonna return and start dream feud with john cena

[@omzimusic3385]

@@depo_ynx most likely no, because that could have happened in 2010.

[@Funhaus_Ryan]

@@depo_ynx HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA No.

[@depo_ynx]

@@Funhaus_Ryan 👍🏽

[@TheSBleeder]

Austin was actually scheduled to come back for one match. Against Coach. Jonathan Coachman. But when he found out that Coach was actually going to go over... Austin said "EH EH. THAT JUST AIN'T GONNA CUT IT." So we got Batista in a handicap match against Coach, Vader, and Goldust. Vader and Goldust hadn't been seen in a while so that was kind of cool.

[@alexrompen805]

Well, the Christian has zero chance of ever coming back... *WWE: lolhereIamintheRumble*

[@sridhar7251]

lol and where am i now? "since hes not going to go against the org and try elsewhere" lmao! im not dissing this channel i just feel its hillarious he guessed everything wrongly abt christian!

[@slashandbones13]

6:00 so he doesn't count then.

[@jimmygraciano5522]

It's been 11 years so I'd say yes

[@Packersfan-us7lg]

I will never stop waiting to hear Cult Of Personality erupt one more time to a massive pop

[@AdraTheGhost]

How'd you like that first episode of Rampage?

[@Packersfan-us7lg]

@@AdraTheGhost It was a good night

[@Venylynn]

How'd you feel about Survivor Series 2023

[@Packersfan-us7lg]

@@Venylynn I had chills

[@Venylynn]

@@Packersfan-us7lg Same

[@Defeee]

What would have we seen if Austin's neck didn't break in SummerSlam -97?

[@jaycerrito3142]

He'd probably wrestle until the beginning of the PG Era and still go the 2009 hall of fame

[@danielstaples1293]

I think at this point he would be close to retiring

[@danyyap3154]

He could put many wrestler over

[@Lettuce2.]

His math with the rock at mania 19 would've been the main event

[@paulwoodford6229]

So.e decent matches. Stone cold became basic and boring

[@Jack-dl5rw]

I don’t think I’ve seen something age worse than that Christian prediction 😂

[@adammundell406]

That whole section on Christian has aged well hasn’t it.....😐

[@McCrispyTaco]

JBL doesn’t count. He retired once and came back. I thought this was just for people who retired once and stayed retired.

[@harveyholmes9533]

I don’t think he’s counting people who came back from injuries that were thought to be career ending. Like is Shawn Michaels hadn’t come back for the match in Saudi he’d make the list despite his 1998 retirement

[@immiklo-2998]

Tommrow: JBL HAS RETURNED!

[@Artwr]

I would love one last a.p.a bradshaw run tbf

[@immiklo-2998]

@@Artwr Yea kinda me to lol

[@CeeDee3]

This list didn't age well lol. CM Punk, Steve Austin, Christian...yeah lol

[@nobodycareswhatithink]

Stone cold definitely makes people aware of alcohol.

[@Shadow09134]

Rip Scott hall 😭😭

[@TheForeverRanger]

Now do 10 surprising wrestlers who are still wrestling. Dory Funk Jr will be on that list having wrestled a match as late as 2018 in Japan.

[@patcab96ch3]

Well... Punk and Christian are now active competitors in AEW in 2021. What a year.

[@killar1one]

The Austin, punk and Christian entries did not age well. Especially with the comments about Christian’s condition to wrestle

[@MartianGamingHD]

Funny watching this now. Most of these have backfired 😅 Also, RIP Scott Hall

[@BrandonHcpt]

John o'clock in thumbnail

[@twiztidtony109]

Christian came back at the Royal rumble this year lolz 😂

[@BillOLDbergSucks]

How times have changed since this video. Christian and CM Punk are back, and Stone Cold Steve Austin came back at WrestleMania 38 for his final match ever against Kevin Owens.

[@DaComebakKid]

I just here waiting for Taz(z) to appear in the video

[@liammccarvel4102]

still mad HBK came back his last match was legendary, now his career ended on a god awful match.

[@Lettuce2.]

Correction : his second career

[@jamesgolder373]

Another awesome vid... Great channel

[@SoftBank47]

The best part about Kobashi’s retirement is that he got married and had a daughter not long after. He’s a proud papa and still does commentary for Pro Wrestling Noah. Not just that, he runs occasional all-star cards under his own promotion, Fortune KK.

[@EWC-rd6mq]

watching this after wrestlemania 38 😐

[@justinbonds2002]

On the network I've been watching raw from 1996 to the present (don't ask why I started in 96') and doesn't JBL retire and then come back from a commentary position around 07'-08' to have a meh heel run with Mania matches against Finlay(with Hornswoggle), and a retirement match against Rey Mysterio? That's 2 retirements I see there

[@alexmorton6888]

Christian, CM Punk, and Steve Austin all came out of retirement since this came out.

[@TheDualDv8]

I know this is 7 months old but Christian is an aew now ...that's funny feuding with Matt Hardy

[@ZillMob]

You missed tazz! He hasn't so much as taken a bump or hit a move or anything. I used to enjoy watching tna, it was funny to me how nobody so much as laid a finger on him

[@CamaroAmx]

He had recurring neck injury (he originally broke it in ECW) and then got bored with wrestling (stopped getting butterflies in his stomach before matches).

[@MRWINDYMETHANE]

Well, looks like this list hasn't exactly aged like fine wine, since CM Punk is back wrestling for AEW, baby!!! 💯

[@williamjones1077]

“Makes me want to hammer some drywall and shoot a wild animal in the face.”😆😆😆🤣🤣 I’m dead!!😂😂😂

[@chargeentertainment2981]

Well barely after 18 months Christian, Stone Cold, and CM Punk(full time), have all came back for at least one match.

[@jonathandominguez74]

Punks more than likely gone again sadly

[@rob-jr5wu]

What about HOF Ron Simmons 🤔

[@wxl2562]

I think currently after seeing this and post survivor series. Undertake is hanging up the coat for sure. Appearing in more interviews, doing the 2K commercial and arguably more to come, being more involved with social media and being free to talk about his wrestling, gimmick, backstage moments and history as well use terms marks like to overuse that only wrestlers use grammatically and not have to dress like the american badass in public or try to ignore business based questions. He is free to do what he wishes. Probably the only retiring wrestler who won't be opening a gym, training or working backstage on stories, gimmicks and NXT. Undertaker is by far one of the only wrestlers I think is allowed to stay retired but come back when the time is right for a wrestlemania. Even if its just an appearance. The man is the reason I got in to wrestling, the first match I ever watched was undertaker versus randy orton in hell in a cell at armageddon. Nowadays, the business doesn't appease to me as much and I had been training in wrestling for a few years as a teenager but gave up and don't think I'll go back to it. Undertaker will be greatly missed and always appreciated.

[@MRHeineJ]

This list needs an update: Christian and Punk on AEW. Austin wrestled in WM 38.

[@smyersfishingadventures]

The number 1 on this list hands down should have been Nikita Koloff. He was a beast who retired in the absolute prime of his career, injury free and specifically because he said he had made all the money he needed. He never wrestled again, and I don't beleive he even made any appearances after 1992 or so. The guy is around 60 and still looks like he could wrestle today. Austin made many appearances including physical confrontations (I know this was from well before his wrestlemania return), and CM Punk has now un-retired.

[@YongFate]

Wow, I knew I'd stepped away from wrestling for a while but how did I miss that Layla was a Brit? 🤣🤣Dark days

[@662chillin]

I remember a show that they did on RAW I believe in England and she kind of dropped the Layla bit for a second to let her British side ooze out and got a pop

[@damianharden3434]

I miss my Layla

[@SimonKingsleyDutton]

Amazing how this aged so quickly! “No chance Christian will get the green light from wwe” then enters the rumble. “Hes wont to go against the company” then joins AEW 😆 then Punk making a triumphant return and Steve coming back this year 😂

[@OmegaLegacy972]

Lmao this year was great

[@kevinsims2876]

5:00 His philosophy was "destrucity" 😭🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@haydendivine8412]

Layla was fantastic. I thought cause of Diva Search she would be a joke but she was great

[@TheWWEfanatic93]

Just realised that despite what people say about JBL bullying smaller guys, he put over Mysterio in his last match.

[@macethegr8]

JBL put over A LOT OF GUYS, he understood the business. Hell, he was stuck in the midcard from 1996-2004.

[@662chillin]

@@macethegr8 And it took this video to kind of remind people of that. JBL treated the business with respect and it blessed him so he did right by it in return

[@christianjimmyalvarez711]

Mysterio is an one off example and he didn't even properly put Rey Mysterio over even at that.

[@TheWWEfanatic93]

@@macethegr8 That is a true statement.

[@jesusgarciag858]

Jbl is a jackass because he made a grown man cry lol

[@adamcahn9315]

Verne Gagne, Magnum T.A, Nikita Koloff, Tully Blanchard... I don’t count the match Blanchard had at the Heroes of Wrestling PPV because... well because.

[@blademaster00]

2 people Christan and CM Punk are now in AEW and wrestling in 2022 Also Stone Cold Wrestled at WM38 I 2022 aswell

[@phili4600]

Why doesn't the unsanctioned match with Christian count? There were entrances, a ref, Christian taking shots to the head, and a three count. Sounds like a match to me.

[@251gonza]

Unsactioned buddy

[@phili4600]

@@251gonza "match" buddy. Unsanctioned or not it was still a wrestling match.

[@Bennyboi004]

he didn't take a bump & was basically an attack angle

[@mitchellsommer2321]

@@phili4600 It was just a match on Paper, It was more of a normal segment when you think about it

[@slashandbones13]

It wasn't a match, it was a segment.

[@ryanmurray4899]

Time to update the list pal

[@confusedru1nz171]

Christian, Punk and Steve Austin all wrestles (or wrestled one more match) a year after this video. i find that amazing

[@educampo95]

Warrior last match wasn't in Italy, it was in Madrid, Spain. Also, fun fact, the match itself is so bad that u can hear the people chant "Manos arriba, esto es un atraco" which means "Hands up, this is a robbery", It's a classical spanish chant that we do when we feel like we are being robbed like in sports or something like that (In this case for the people that paid the tickets).

[@corbinthepieguy0249]

Two months after this, Christian wrestled in the rumble… then left for aew

[@KM-lc6hj]

Lol ain't that something?

[@justfungames689]

Watching this video a year after released and spotting just how many names on here came out of retirement

[@ChampagneGars]

Shawn Michaels would've been on this list had he not done that atrocious match in Saudi. His WM match vs Undertaker was the greatest retirement match he could've asked for.

[@crazychristopher1989]

If it wasn't for the fact that Shawn Michaels was forced to retire with an injury, he would've made the list.

[@kanawhaboy98]

Top 2 aged well

[@victorarredondo304]

Shawn Michaels should be on the list. No one remembers the crown jewel thing

[@eggegg4933]

I wish that was true

[@AllDayRascalz]

Well people do...

[@official_hank_hill]

All because people forgot about it that doesnt mean it never happened

[@phillyfan1568]

That match is not canon

[@franklingoodwin]

Not true. Everyone remembers Shorn Michaels and his bald head tagging with Triple H

[@brandonrump9437]

This aged well!

[@lederrickj]

Christian saw this video and said "Hold my beer 🍺"...🤣

[@matthewkendall1998]

Anyone else watching this after Christian's return?

[@Darealsaulgoodman]

Rip to the bad guy

[@kennethwill246]

The concussion joke was great

[@LeeDragonGT]

This video is really funny a year later 😂

[@cliffordsithole2646]

Long as the wrestler is still alive,they aint retired in my book

[@NoOne-oe3co]

Never say never in that business.

[@pakyomadapaka]

christian's back

[@KrayzFatman]

The CM Punk entry aged well

[@edefuu3082]

I was just thinking that

[@paulprimus1666]

So did the Stone Cold entry

[@aja1069]

Jeeeeeeeez adam got some good singing

[@bigdicklarry8350]

3:57 LOL WWE and employees doesn't go together

[@Xenonnofficial]

0:32 Damn ok Seth

[@ALXStarfish97]

I think you guys gotta update your list here since almost half the people on this list returned in some capacity. Watching this in April 2022 makes this list age like milk.

[@plantadelbosque]

watching this in 203, seeing Christian doing one of the finest characters in his career is oddly satisfying

[@pacman52280]

Stevie Ray should have been on this list.

[@SennaHawx]

He did have a tag title run with Booker T for Booker's RoW promotion a few years ago

[@lagoo1982]

Foley would have been a good addition to this list

[@collinsirori2745]

Foley came out of retirement 4 times 🤣🤣

[@lagoo1982]

@@collinsirori2745 haha ok, good point

[@lagoo1982]

As of now, I dont see him doing another match

[@josiahboatengmyrie]

But foley retired 4 times and his initial retirement lasted less than a month

[@slashandbones13]

He had his TNA run and two more matches after that. There was also a royal rumble appearance but I don't count things like that.

[@jasonnaugle1600]

7:54 When your hat looks like Bock Owens' guitar from Hee Haw

[@ashyhahaga6616]

Christian Cm punk and Steve Austin aged amazingly

[@treybooher9608]

i know a lot of people don't like JBL for his backstage bullying, but he was damn good at his job as a wrestler

[@rottenrose121]

So you gotta change your top 2 now

[@kieferhendricks6680]

Man, that Christian entry did not hold up long at all. To be fair though, who honestly saw his return coming?

[@retronig74]

Wow a few of the wrestlers on here have come back! 😄

[@mortyjr8433]

Depends what your take on actually retiring is because JBL did retire twice for example